NATS Announces Participants in Expanded 2017 Intern Program

National professional development program for voice teachers now includes collaborative pianists

posted on 2:48 PM, February 6, 2017

The executive office of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) announced this week that 15 members have been selected to participate in the 2017 NATS Intern Program, a 10-day forum that pairs experienced and recognized master teachers with talented, emerging professionals. In addition to the 12 voice interns selected, the program has been expanded to include three collaborative pianist interns.

The executive office of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) announced that 15 members have been selected to participate in the 2017 NATS Intern Program, a 10-day forum that pairs experienced and recognized master teachers with talented, emerging professionals.

In addition to the 12 voice interns selected, the program has been expanded to include three collaborative pianist interns. “Collaborative piano is an exciting addition to the Program after its first 25 years of successes — we’re so glad to offer this addition to our collaborative piano members, and can’t wait to be able to report on the coming together of voice and collaborative piano interns at this Program — our first in Canada,” said NATS Past-President Norman Spivey, who serves as the program’s director.

This year's voice interns will work with master teachers Peggy Baroody, Kenneth Bozeman, Mary Saunders-Barton, and W. Stephen Smith, while the inaugural class of collaborative piano interns will work with master teacher Warren Jones.

The program will be held June 2-12 at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Spivey is the director of this year's program, and Lorna MacDonald is the on-site coordinator. More than 70 applicants were considered for the prestigious program, which has been in existence since 1991. This year’s class includes teachers who teach in university settings as well as those who operate independent studios.

“We are excited to begin working with the class of 2017 Interns. The high number of applicants we had this year has given us a group of exceptionally skilled and promising talent,” said Spivey.

With partial funding from the NATS Foundation, the NATS Intern Program is an exceptional training experience. The program environment is structured to improve the teaching skills of the interns as well as promote the interdependent relationships necessary to provide the best instruction for students, who often are independently taught by collaborative pianists and voice teachers. Within an intensive format designed to promote the dynamic exchange of ideas and techniques, the goal is to improve substantially the studio teaching skills of voice interns and the coaching skills of collaborative piano interns.

The NATS Intern Program is held annually. Application materials for the 2018 Program will be available in late summer. If you are interested in contributing to the support of the program, donations can be made to the James McKinney Memorial Fund through the NATS Foundation. If your school or facility would be interested in coordinating/hosting a future NATS Summer Intern Program, please contact pastpresident [AT] nats.org for details and facility requirements.

"I've often heard that the Intern Program is the best thing that NATS offers, and I couldn't agree more. The ripple effect of this Program is endless. Every Intern will forever be a better teacher and their students will be better teachers because of it. I'm so grateful for the experience and for the lifelong bonds that were formed during those formative weeks together." – Aaron Humble, former participant in the NATS Intern Program (class of 2016)